DISKMAG3.BAT ·
BAT ·
49.9 KB ·
1985-12-08 ·
from CompuLink-User-Group_Magazette_Vol-1-Issue-2_1985
ECHO OFF
bat goto -line0
bat -header
bat stack.purge
bat cls begtype
\0F╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗\07
end
bat type %s%s%s%s%s%s%s %H%s%s%s%s%%s%s%s%ss%s%s%s%s%s COMPULINK MAGAZETTE ISSUE 2%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%s%sPage %N
bat begtype
\0F╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Press: PGDN for next page, PGUP for prev page, HOME for main menu.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\07
end
bat return
bat -scroll
bat inkey %k
bat if %k = KEY003 goto -opt0 |* Break key
bat if %k = KEY01B %L = 0 | return |* ESC key
bat if %k = KEY147 %L = 0 | return |* Home key
bat if %k = KEY149 %L = %L - 1 | cls | return |* PgUp key
bat if %k = KEY151 %L = %L + 1 | cls | return |* PgDn key
bat goto -scroll
end
bat read Press the ─┘ key to continue to next section.....
bat return
bat -line0
bat cls begtype
\0F ╔════ COMPULINK MAGAZETTE ISSUE 2 ════╗
║ The Magazine On The Screen! ║
╙───────────────────────────────────────────╜
\0F ╔═════════════════╗
║ SECTION 3 INDEX ║
╚═════════════════╝
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗\07
\0F ║ 1)\07 3.01 - 3.13 PC-News updata. \0F║\07
\0F ║ 2)\07 3.14 - 3-30 Help with Symphony. \0F║\07
\0F ║ 3)\07 3.31 - 3.36 Review of PC-FOIL. \0F║\07
\0F ║ 4)\07 3.37 - 3.41 Mechanics of Assembly Language. \0F║\07
\0F ║ 5)\07 3.42 - 3.46 Artificial Intelligence. \0F║\07
\0F ║ ║
║ 0) EXIT ║
║ ║
║ 6) Section 1, 7) Section 2, 8) Section 4. ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝\07
END
bat -entry0
bat read Enter the number of your selection. > %A
bat if / = /%a %a = 1
bat if %a < 16 if %a > 1/ cls goto -opt%a
bat if %a < : if %a > / cls goto -opt%a
bat beep
end
bat goto -entry0
bat -opt0 cls begtype
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ Ready to leave Magazette Press a key: ║
║ <\0FS\07>ystem <\0FA\07>gain ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
end
bat -exiting inkey %a
bat if %a = S exit
bat if %a = A goto -line0
bat beep goto -exiting
bat -line87
bat -opt1 %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 87 | %N = 3.01
bat call -header | begtype
Microsoft is developing DOS 3.2 especially for IBM. It's
designed for use on 3 1/2-inch disk drives. It's almost
identical to DOS 3.1, except that it may support extended
hard disk storage beyond the present 33 megabyte limit. The
product will not come out until IBM releases a new computer
that uses 3 1/2-inch disk drives. A lap-top and a smaller
version of the PC both have been rumored for months.
The DOS board AT&T now sells for the Unix PC doesn't run
Softguard-protected applications, such as the new Lotus
products, dBase III, Framework, and a host of others.
There's nothing AT&T can do about the problem, AT&T officials
say. The Softguard people have to revise their
copy-protection software so that it runs when used by the
AT&T DOS board.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line88
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 88 | %N = 3.02
bat call -header | begtype
It's unlikely that the software companies will help their
users in the field, although they're sure to incorporate the
Softguard "fix" into future versions of the protected
applications. The AT&T board was built by Alloy Computer
Products of Framingham, Mass., and It really wasn't their
fault, though. The Unix PC has a weird controller chip that
fouls up Softguard-protected software. Oh well.
AT&T will introduce an AT&T-label version of the AST Rampage!
board any day now. The board will let users of the PC 6300
Plus address 2 megabytes of memory under DOS, as well as
under Unix. It is the very same paged-memory board AST sells
under its own logo. This was a tough story to nail down
because both AT&T and AST couldn't decided whether to go
public on it. One AT&T executive said that the Rampage!
board was introduced the same Day as the 6300 Plus, but the
news was "buried" in the pile of products AT&T also announced
that day.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line89
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 89 | %N = 3.03
bat call -header | begtype
An AST executive said that's how he saw it, too. However,
just before press time AT&T called to say that they couldn't
officially say it was a done deal. The AST guy who went on
the record came back and said that on second thought, he'd
rather go off the record. All in all, a screwed-up chain of
events. The story is true, though. Watch and see.
There's a good story in the paper this week about how TopView
is not compatible with IBM's emerging networking products.
In fact, IBM in general has not pushed TopView for many
months, and observers are beginning to wonder what IBM plans
to do with this sluggish memory-gobbler. Some people are
speculating that TopView may be "liquidated" and its
multitasking code and application-program interface (API) may
be merged into a Microsoft operating system. (That's
unlikely.) Another interesting development is that several
companies have written TopView-specific applications -- they
were requested to do so by IBM -- and IBM never released the
applications. Where are these applications? Anyone know???
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line90
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 90 | %N = 3.04
bat call -header | begtype
Take a look at your AT tech ref manual. In two different
schematics you'll see evidence that the AT was originally
designed to run at 8MHz, not the 6 MHz that IBM has always
claimed. IBM changed the ROM BIOS in the 30M byte PC AT so
that ATs running at 8 MHz will not boot -- a booby trap, you
might say. "The AT never was meant to run any faster than 6
MHz and we are going to prevent users from accelerating their
machines." That's what IBM told us. Well, they may regret
their words after our story runs. What we believe is that
IBM provided a socket for the 6 MHz crystal that would allow
users to replace the 6 MHz crystal with a faster model down
the line. Most manufacturers solder their crystals right
into the motherboard. We also hear that IBM might come out
with a faster AT early next year, and they want to "cripple"
the existing AT to protect the market for the new model.
What do you think about all this?
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line91
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 91 | %N = 3.05
bat call -header | begtype
3Com is introducing new networking software called 3 + that
is said to link the IBM Token-Ring network, the broadband PC
Network, the Apple AppleTalk network and AT&T's Starlan net,
and of course, the 3Com nets. The connections are made
through two super-duper file servers that allow
direct-connect and dial-up connections. 3Com also is about
to cut prices on its diskette-based Ethershare series of
networking software products. We use it here at PC Week; do
we get a rebate, folks?
Greetings, I have done some benchmarks on the NEC V20, and
found that using CPU bound floating point and integer
calculations I netted a 5.5% and 3.5% increase respectively.
Tom Jennings, Fido author, performed some system benchmarks
doing compile, link, and assemble of the Fido software, and
he realized increases of between -1% to 5%. These benchmarks
are documented in Fido news 234 (I think).
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line92
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 92 | %N = 3.06
bat call -header | begtype
I tried running some standard PC BASIC benchmarks, but I felt
that I needed a longer test to make the comparison more
accurate, particularly when trying to evaluate only a 3-5%
increase!! My suggestion is to either forget an evaluation
or let people know that they will be paying between $20 and
$50 for a 3-5% increase in speed over the 4.77 MHz PC, was
not that bad, either. If someone wants to speed up floating
point calculations, spend $100 for an 8087, if they want
faster throughput on the PC, buy a speed up board with a
faster crystal 8086/80186/80286!!
AST and Intel Intel has announced a new AboveBoard that
doubles as a multifunction board. Not to be outdone, AST
announced a piggyback module for their RAMpage! board that
has a serial port, parallel port, etc. The two compan ies,
which have been clubbing each other over the head with their
memory specs, now are doing it again with their expanded
memory products. The Intel board with 256K bytes of memory
-- expandable to 1.5 megs -- costs $545.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line93
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 93 | %N = 3.07
bat call -header | begtype
AST's piggyback module costs $100 more than the RAMpage!
board itself. We forget how much the whole board costs.
We'd like some feedback from you about expanded memory in
general. Do you use it? Would you? Who needs that
capability? Is it just "an interim solution," as many people
say, or will it be around for 8088-based machines, while the
fancy protected-mode DOS (about six months away) will take
care of the 80286 crowd? Let us know, because we had an
interesting debate here at PC Week about expanded memory and
its value to users.
Ashton-Tate is coming out with a networked version of dBase
III that has pull-down menus and an applications generator.
It will be shown at Comdex. Users attach this new dBase to
the network by buying something called the dBase
Administrator, which will vary in cost depending on how many
nodes you have. The programs interface look a lot more like
Framework than dBase....no more "unfriendly" prompts.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line94
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 94 | %N = 3.08
bat call -header | begtype
Hey, we got a good one this week......AT&T's new lap-top,
which will come out in January, we understand. It's got An
8088 microprocessor, one 5 1/4-inch floppy drive and can be
fitted with an optional 3 1/2-inch, 10 megabyte hard disk!
Olivetti built it for AT&T. Also optional are a back-lit LCD
screen, an internal 1200-baud modem and a video adapter for
standard monitors. No word on price yet. So...it looks like
AT&T beat IBM to the punch in the lap-top market. Watch IBM
scramble now! Read more about this machine in the November
12th edition of our paper.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line95
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 95 | %N = 3.09
bat call -header | begtype
just a quick note about gte telenet's new pc pursuit. it is
a non-prime time offering which allows you to call into the
telenet network and reach computer systems in 12 metropolitan
areas. they include atlanta, boston, chicago, dallas,
denver, detroit, houston, los angeles, new york,
philadelphia, san francisco, and washington. you can call
800-835-3001 or 703-689-2987 for data connection where you
can download files des- cribing the system including
registration or you may call 800-368-4215 during normal
business hours to speak to a representative of gte telenet
for information. the service has proven satisfactory in my
use of it during the past several weeks. however, there are
some slight drawbacks when up/downloading since the acknow-
ledgement for protocol block transmissions is slowed down
considerably. since the service is not time sensitive for
connect time, it would be only your time and that of the bbs
or system to which you are connected if there are time
restrictions on the latter.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line96
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 96 | %N = 3.10
bat call -header | begtype
there is talk of but no formal confirmation that the system
will be available at 2400 baud in october, 1985 but this has
not been confirmed. see the next message for a description
of a short test conducted to evaluate downloading times using
the service.
the following is an listing of times for transmissions using
mci-1200, mci-2400, and gte telenet's pc pursuit at 1200
baud/chicago to a fido bbs in the san francisco area- the
file being downloaded was text-5504 bytes which showed having
a transmittal time for xmodem protocol at 1 min 1 sec at 1200
baud, at 37 sec at 2400 baud. there were 47 blocks in xmodem
and 67-69 blocks for kermit.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line97
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 97 | %N = 3.11
bat call -header | begtype
xmodem xmodem/crc kermit
mci - 1200 baud 1m 3s 1m 1s 1m 11s
mci - 2400 baud 0m 38s 0m 37s 0m 45s
gte - 1200 baud 1m 50s 1m 53s 2m 50s
interesting results which i hope will help you determine
usefulness and times for downloads using the packet based gte
system. with a 2400 baud capability in the network being
offered in the future, the pc pursuit package will be
significantly better in terms of its capabilities.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line98
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 98 | %N = 3.12
bat call -header | begtype
Important!!! On December 14, 1985, the 1985 Beyond War Award
will be presented to the six signers of the Five Continent
Peace Initiative via a 7-way, 5-continent, satellite
braodcast. This is the first time such a space-bridge has
connected five continents in the history of the planet. At
the ceremony, a petition in support of the Initiative will be
presented with (hopefully) 1 million signatures from people
around the world.
If you would be interested in signing this petition, please
read the enclosed file (it is called PEACEINT). Please then
send me a fidonet message to SYSOP of FIDO 101/301 (the
Beyond War BBS) and I will include your name on the petition.
IF YOU ARE SO MOTIVATED... please download the file
PEACEINT, copy it, and have as many people sign it as
possible. Then mail them back to: Andy Kanter, 1580
Massachusetts Ave. Apt. 8A, Cambridge, MA 02138!
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line99
bat %H = NEWSFILE | %L = 99 | %N = 3.13
bat call -header | begtype
If you would like more information about the presentation (it
can be viewed at 140+ locations around the globe, including
the U.N.), or more info about Beyond War, you can also send a
message to FIDO 101/301 or call Andy at (617) 876-0931, or
the Beyond War Office at (415) 328-7756. This is of the
utmost importance and EVERY SIGNATURE COUNTS!!!
Please sign!!!
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line100
bat -opt2 %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 100 | %N = 3.14
bat call -header | begtype
Symphony Notes
Release 1
For IBM and COMPAQ
Personal Computers
Note 102 Transferring a 1-2-3 Database to Symphony
Introduction
Symphony works with 1-2-3 database files in much the same way
1-2-3 does. To make use of Symphony's additional database
capabilities using the FORM window, however, you must follow
the procedure outlined in this note.
This procedure involves retrieving the 1-2-3 file with
Symphony and saving it as a Symphony file, creating a blank
Symphony worksheet, and then combining the file's field name
range and Database range with the blank worksheet.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line101
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 101 | %N = 3.15
bat call -header | begtype
1-2-3 and Symphony Databases
There are several differences between 1-2-3 and Symphony
databases:
* The Input range in 1-2-3 is called the Database range in
Symphony.
* Symphony classifies this Database range as well as the
Criterion range and the Output range as the Basic ranges.
Symphony specifies the Database and Criterion ranges
automatically during form generation.
Symphony's Form Generation Process
During Symphony's form generation process, you can accept the
form setting defaults or you can change them. The FORM
window Generate command offers the following form setting
options:
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line102
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 102 | %N = 3.16
bat call -header | begtype
* The default field type - Choose Label, Number, Date, Time,
or Computed. Label is the default.
* The default field length - Indicate the column width. The
default is 9.
* The name of the Database settings sheet - This names the
settings sheet. The default name is MAIN.
When Symphony generates a form, it automatically creates
several different ranges. These ranges adopt the name of the
Database settings sheet. Refer to the Symphony How-To Manual
and the Reference Manual for more information about these
ranges.
Procedure
Before you begin, be sure to make a backup copy of the 1-2-3
database file you are going to transfer.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line103
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 103 | %N = 3.17
bat call -header | begtype
Start with Symphony loaded in the computer. If you have a
two-disk drive computer, put the disk with the 1-2-3 database
file in either disk drive. If you have a hard-disk computer,
you can either put a disk with the 1-2-3 database file in the
disk drive or work with a 1-2-3 database file on the hard
disk.
1. Begin in a SHEET window and retrieve the 1-2-3 file you
want to transfer.
Select Services File Retrieve and call up the 1-2-3 file.
Note: Be sure to indicate the appropriate disk drive when
you type in the name of the file to be retrieved. If your
file is in a subdirectory, make sure you indicate the
subdirectory name.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line104
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 104 | %N = 3.18
bat call -header | begtype
You can retrieve the 1-2-3 file with its .WKS extension.
When you select File Retrieve, Symphony lists the available
files on the command line on the screen. On the status line,
you will see the path ending with \\*.wrk. Press the Escape
key once and *.wrk disappears. Then type in *.wks and press
Return; the files with a .WKS extension will be listed. Or,
when making the backup copy of the file, you can use the
operating system command to change the extension from .WKS to
.WRK and then retrieve the file.
2. Next, name two separate ranges: the field name range
(consisting of the column headings) and the Database range
(consisting of all the data in the worksheet). Be sure to
write down the range names you use. To simplify the transfer
process, you might use "fields" and "data" for the range
names.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line105
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 105 | %N = 3.19
bat call -header | begtype
* Select Menu Range Name Create. Type in a name for the
field name range. Highlight the range and press Return.
* Follow the same procedure to name the Database range and
highlight its boundaries.
* Save the file with the Services File Save command.
Note: It's a good idea to change the 1-2-3 .WKS extension to
the Symphony .WRK extension now if you haven't done it yet.
3. Copy the field name range onto a blank worksheet.
* Select Services New Yes to create a blank worksheet.
* Copy the field name range onto the new worksheet by
selecting Services File Combine Copy Named-Area.
Type in the name of the field name range (for example,
fields) and select Read and either Value or Formula.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line106
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 106 | %N = 3.20
bat call -header | begtype
Finally, type in the name of the saved file.
The field names should appear at the pointer position on the
worksheet. Don't worry if some of the field names are
shortened on the screen. You can adjust the column widths
individually later.
4. Switch to the FORM window and generate an entry form.
* Select Menu Generate. You can accept or change Symphony's
default settings for the field type and length and the
Database settings sheet name at this point or you can wait
and change them later. To accept the defaults, press Return
three times.
* Highlight the field name range so that it includes all of
the field names.
* Press Return and you will see the entry form.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line107
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 107 | %N = 3.21
bat call -header | begtype
5. Copy the Database range on the new worksheet.
* Switch back to the SHEET window. You will see the database
that Symphony generated. The following ranges are on the
screen: Entry range, Definition range, Above Report range,
Main Report range, Criterion range, and Database range.
(Full definitions of these ranges can be found in the
Symphony How-To Manual.)
* Press Goto and type in the name of the Database settings
sheet followed by _DB. For example, if you accepted the
default name for the settings sheet, you would type MAIN_DB.
Press Return and the pointer moves to the first field name of
the Database range. Move the pointer down one row.
* Copy the Database range into the new worksheet by selecting
Services File Combine Copy Named-Area.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line108
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 108 | %N = 3.22
bat call -header | begtype
Type in the Database range name (for example, data) and
select Read and either Value or Formula.
Type in the name of the saved file.
6. Since Symphony has not yet extended the range of the new
database past the field name row, you must extend the
Database range.
* With the pointer on the leftmost field name, select Menu
Query Settings Basic Database.
* Highlight the range to include all the data that has been
brought into the Database range to the worksheet.
* Press Return and then press Quit three times.
Symphony will now automatically adjust the Database range
downward each time a new record is entered through the entry
form.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line109
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 109 | %N = 3.23
bat call -header | begtype
7. Switch back to the FORM window and you will see the data
for the first record on the entry form. Use the Page Down
key to see the next record on the entry form.
Select Services File Save to save the file. You now have a
Symphony database file.
Hotline Q & A
SYMPHONY
The following are answers to questions commonly asked by our
dealers and test sites about Symphony's capabilities.
FILE HANDLING
Q. When I do a File Retrieve, the file name extensions are
.WRK for both worksheet and document files. Am I doing File
Save correctly?
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line110
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 110 | %N = 3.24
bat call -header | begtype
A. Yes. Symphony gives the .WRK file name extension to both
spreadsheets and documents. As does 1-2-3, Symphony uses
.PIC and .PRN file name extensions to indicate graph-image
and print files respectively.
Q. When accessing a directory through File Retrieve or File
Save, [23;1H[J Key S or <ENTER> to continue[23;30H!s [23;1H[J
the ESC key does not erase the current directory.
A. To erase the current directory name, simply press [ESC]
twice. This allows you to type in the name of another
sub-directory.
WORD PROCESSING
Q. In a DOC window, there are times when word wrap doesn't
seem to work. Why?
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line111
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 111 | %N = 3.25
bat call -header | begtype
A. Word wrap is disabled when overstrike INS is turned on,
or when justification is set to NONE. Press [INSERT] to turn
off overstrike mode or change the justification in the format
line.
Q. Why are non-left aligned labels considered to be
non-text, i.e., why can't they be edited in word processing?
A. Centered (^) and right-aligned labels (") use leading
spaces. The Symphony program would need to be significantly
larger to handle these labels as text.
Q. Values entered in a SHEET window cannot be edited in a
DOC window.
A. True. The worksheet values you entered in SHEET are
protected.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line112
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 112 | %N = 3.26
bat call -header | begtype
SPREADSHEET
Q. When printing spreadsheets, long labels are truncated at
the column width.
A. True. When defining an output range, the entire visible
portion of the labels must be highlighted.
Q. Where are the global options?
A. Press [Menu] and select Settings to establish column
width, recalculation mode, label prefix, etc.
Q. How do I transfer a row to a column without using DIF?
A. Use Symphony's new Range Transpose command.
Q. Will there be a function for TIME calculation?
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line113
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 113 | %N = 3.27
bat call -header | begtype
A. There are several. @TIME returns the serial value of a
time of day. @TIMEVALUE returns a serial value of a time
entered as a string. There are also @HOUR, @MINUTE, and
@SECOND, which will accept a serial value, and return the
corresponding time value.
Q. I'm using the range name "1st" in my worksheet, but
Symphony will not allow me to use @ functions involving that
range.
A. Correct. For computational purposes, range names cannot
begin with a number, but Symphony will accept a range name
like "1st" for move, erase, and copy commands.
GRAPHING
Q. How do I explode the Pie Charts?
A. By assigning a B range for the graph settings, and giving
a value of 100 to 107 to the section you want exploded.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line114
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 114 | %N = 3.28
bat call -header | begtype
Q. How do I do a log/semi-log scale graph?
A. By hitting the daily double at Aqueduct! But
seriously...Symphony has built this into its graph
capabilities. Select Graph 2nd Settings X-Axis Type
Logarithmic. Do the same for the Y-Axis if appropriate.
FORMS/DATABASE
Q. What is the parse review range?
A. This is an area that Symphony uses to store any data that
does not match the criteria established by a form definition.
An example of such data would be the salutation and login
sequence which remains on the screen during a communications
session with a mainframe.
Q. Has the Data Distribution command been eliminated from
Symphony?
A. Not at all. It can now be found under Range
Distribution.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line115
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 115 | %N = 3.29
bat call -header | begtype
Q. I'm creating a mailing list with Symphony, but it will
not accept the part of the formula I've used to reference zip
codes.
A. Symphony's string handling capabilities are one of its
nicest features, but it still sees numbers the same way as
1-2-3 does. To create a formula that involves columns of
numbers as well as text, use the @STRING function for any
numerical data.
COMMUNICATIONS
Q. Symphony's Settings Name Phone-and-Login sequence doesn't
work with my Hayes Smartmodem 1200.
A. Check to be sure that dip-switch number six is set to ON
-- the up position.
Q. Why does my monitor display two characters for every one
I strike?
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line116
bat %H = SYMPHONY%sHELP | %L = 116 | %N = 3.30
bat call -header | begtype
A. Check your COMM Settings Sheet to be sure that Echo is
set to OFF.
Q. When I dial a remote computer, I hear the phone ring, and
I hear the high pitched sound that indicates that I've
reached the computer, but I can't connect.
A. You're transmitting at different baud rates. Find out
the baud rate of the computer you're trying to access and
adjust your own baud rate accordingly -- probably downward.
The two most common baud rates between computers are 300 and
1200.
SYMPHONY COMMAND LANGUAGE
Q. Can I turn my screen off while the macro is executing?
A. Yes. The new {paneloff} command will surpress the
display of the control panel, and the {windowsoff} command
will supress the window displays.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line117
bat -opt3 %H = PC-FOIL%sREVIEW | %L = 117 | %N = 3.31
bat call -header | begtype
******************************************
*BASIC PC-FOIL AND FOILEDIT DOCUMENTATION*
******************************************
PC-FOIL and its companion program FOIL-EDIT combine to
provide a multi-purpose tool for preparation of a complete
presentation or document on the IBM Personal Computer. It
allows you to make effective use of the printer to
graphically emphasize your thoughts and ideas. Key points
can be highlighted.
PC-FOIL may be used to make overhead transparencies (FOILS)
or to create attractive documents. When you combine the
large print, the big bold print, and the boxes with your
creativity, the effect can be dramatic. You simply develop
the presentation or document using FOIL-EDIT, then print it
using PC-FOIL. This User's Guide is an example of the type
of document PC-FOIL can produce.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line118
bat %H = PC-FOIL%sREVIEW | %L = 118 | %N = 3.32
bat call -header | begtype
PC-FOIL can improve your productivity initially and when
making changes. To make minor changes to the document or
presentation, simply crank up the PC, make the minor change
using the FOIL-EDIT full screen editor and then print out
only the page(s) that contains the change.
FOIL-EDIT is an excellent general purpose full-screen editor.
You can use it for creating programs, as a word processor, or
for just modifying any standard DOS file that you have, such
as BAT files or data base files. It is fast and easy to use.
It offers both menus and commands depending upon your skill
level. The on-line help facility allows you to get help at
any time without losing your place.
PC-FOIL can been used for any general purpose documentation.
It can and has been used for instruction manuals, user's
guides, operational instructions, management reports, program
documentation, mailing labels, name tags, stick-on labels and
many other documents.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line119
bat %H = PC-FOIL%sREVIEW | %L = 119 | %N = 3.33
bat call -header | begtype
If you make presentations or prepare documents regularly,
then PC-FOIL can be of assistance to you.
PC-FOIL requires a 128K or larger IBM Personal Computer with
one or two disk drives and an 80 character color or
monochrome monitor. PC-FOIL requires an IBM or compatible
printer. It can be a regular matrix printer or a graphics
printer but requires the graphics printer if using the large
block lettering. It has been tested and works with DOS Rel
1.1 and DOS Rel 2.0. The hard disk is supported. It has
also been tested on a 128K PCjr and an IBM 3270 PC.
PC-FOIL and FOIL-EDIT are distributed as user supported
software. User supported software is based upon a concept of
allowing you to try out the program prior to paying for it.
It is not copy protected and you may give it to anyone you
like. The following message will be displayed each time you
exit the program.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line120
bat %H = PC-FOIL%sREVIEW | %L = 120 | %N = 3.34
bat call -header | begtype
************************************************************
* If you are using the program and find it to be of value * *
you are encouraged to contribute $25 to the authors. *
************************************************************
********************************************* * Don Logan *
Wally Anderson * * 1863 Oxborough Ct * 3000 Cleburne * *
Chesterfield * N. Little Rock * * MO 63017 * AR 72116 *
*********************************************
Diskette requests and contributions should be mailed to Wally
Anderson. To receive your copy, please send 2 single sided
diskettes and a stamped and addressed return envelope to
Wally Anderson. Program defects and suggestions should be
mailed to Don Logan.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line121
bat %H = PC-FOIL%sREVIEW | %L = 121 | %N = 3.35
bat call -header | begtype
Regardless of whether you make a contribution, you are
encouraged to copy and share this program with others as long
as you do not modify it in any way nor distribute the program
for profit. Please distribute it in the distribution format
that includes the documentation. This program distribution
is based upon the FREEWARE concept but is not associated with
The Headlands Press, Inc.
FREEWARE is a trademark of The Headlands Press, Inc. IBM is
a trademark of IBM Corporation.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line122
bat %H = PC-FOIL%sREVIEW | %L = 122 | %N = 3.36
bat call -header | begtype
The following files are on the PC-FOIL program disk:
PC-FOIL .EXE - THE PC-FOIL PROGRAM
FOILEDIT.EXE - THE FOIL-EDIT EDITOR
E .BAT - A SHORTCUT FOR STARTING FOIL-EDIT
F .BAT - A SHORTCUT FOR STARTING PC-FOIL
FOILEDIT.HLP - HELP SCREEN FOR FOIL-EDIT
PC-FOIL .HLP - HELP SCREEN FOR BOTH FOIL-EDIT AND PC-FOIL
FOIL .LET - BLOCK LETTERS FOR THE IBM GRAPHICS PRINTER
PROFILE .DEF - DEFAULT DEFINITIONS
The following files are on the PC-FOIL documentation disk:
PC-FOIL .DOC - INSTRUCTIONS FOR PRINTING DOCUMENTATION
PC-FOIL .FOI - USED TO PRINT THE USER'S GUIDE (IMBEDS 1-5)
PC-FOIL1-5.FOI - THE PC-FOIL AND FOIL-EDIT USER'S GUIDE
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line123
bat -opt4 %H = ASSEMBLER | %L = 123 | %N = 3.37
bat call -header | begtype
The Mechanics of Assembly: Dead Languages and Machine
Languages
David Betts San Francisco PC Users Group
Learning Assembly Language can be approached from several
directions. It can be likened to learning Latin. That is,
you may never expect to speak it; instead, it becomes the
foundation for studying other languages.
Learning Latin properly requires learning about the context
in which it was used: the lifestyle and history of the
Romans. Likewise, Assembler must be learned in context of
the host computer, or else it is also a "dead" language. So,
we will study the Assembly code for the IBM PC (and clones)
rather than call it by the Latin: 8086/8088 Native Code
Instruction Set. What is more, we will explore the hardware
some as we go along, just to see what it (and we) can do.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line124
bat %H = ASSEMBLER | %L = 124 | %N = 3.38
bat call -header | begtype
The microprocessor and the logic, memory, and input/output
circuits (I/O) all speak the inscrutable tongue of binary.
To instruct these circuits to do things requires that our
requests, such as "store that spreadsheet on the diskette in
drive B:," be translated into strings of ones and zeros. Of
course, most of the time we don't even think of things that
way. Rather, we leave it up to DOS or our program to do the
dirty work of translating the button (or series of buttons)
we push into a high-level program instruction, then into many
low-level instructions, and finally into perhaps thousands of
binary machine instructions. Occasionally, though, we would
like to do something that DOS or other high-level programs
can't directly do. Or, we'd like to do it much faster. This
is the domain of the most powerful language of all--Assembly
Language. No byte can hide from this powerful tool, either
on the diskette or anywhere in memory.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line125
bat %H = ASSEMBLER | %L = 125 | %N = 3.39
bat call -header | begtype
The maker of DOS provided us a tool to get at every byte and
bit in the computer, and on (practically) any diskette. This
is DEBUG.COM, on the DOS distribution diskette. This program
has many uses, but we'll use it to explore the vitals of the
computer memory and use it to write some programs. Write
some programs, you say? Yes, because DEBUG, particularly
version 2.0 that comes with DOS 2.0, has some nifty commands
just for this purpose. Don't quit reading at this point,
though, if all you have is DOS 1.0 or 1.1. I'll discuss
examples that will work under all versions. But, I do
recommend that everyone who has a PC upgrade to at least
version 2.0, even if you don't have a hard disk or plan to
get one. Using DEBUG for writing long programs would be
rather tedious. However, by using DEBUG, we can start
learning Assembler without having to wrestle with Microsoft
MASM (Macro Assembler) at the same time. We will use DEBUG's
A(ssemble), D(ump), F(ill), and E(nter) commands to give us
something like interpretive Assembler.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line126
bat %H = ASSEMBLER | %L = 126 | %N = 3.40
bat call -header | begtype
As in BASIC, we type in the instructions we want the computer
to do, and DEBUG translates or assembles them one instruction
at a time into the binary code that the microprocessor
understands.
So, let's just dive in and see what happens. I'll assume
you're near a computer so you can play along. We'll start by
learning about using DEBUG's D(ump) command to read the date
burned into the Read Only Memory, or ROM in the PC. This was
first discussed by Peter Norton in Softalk, and subsequently
in his book, Inside the IBM PC With the DOS diskette in drive
A: we call DEBUG by typing "DEBUG" at the A> prompt. When
DEBUG is ready, we get a prompt that looks like a hyphen "-".
At the hyphen, type the line below (I'll capitalize the
commands to DEBUG, though this is not necessary):
-D F000:FFF5 L 8 <Return>
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line127
bat %H = ASSEMBLER | %L = 127 | %N = 3.41
bat call -header | begtype
This commands DEBUG to D(ump) or print to the screen the
contents of the eight bytes of memory starting at memory
address F000:FFF5. You should be looking at a display that
looks something like this:
-D F000:FFF5 L 8 F000:FFF5 31 30 2F-31 39 2F 38 31 10/19/81
The beginning of the line is the address and the "31 30 2F
..." part is the string of 8 bytes or hexadecimal numbers we
asked DEBUG for -- the date of the ROM in your computer. You
may get a different date than the one above. When Norton
wrote his book in 1983 he'd found the one above and the
original 4/24/81 versions. If you get 10/27/82, that
corresponds to the listing of BIOS released in the IBM PC
Technical Reference Manual, version 2.02 (April, 1983).
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line128
bat -opt5 %H = AI%sPROBLEMS | %L = 128 | %N = 3.42
bat call -header | begtype
Artificial Intelligence
Whil Hentzen Greater Cincinnati IBM PC User's Group
The first problem of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is that
everyone has his own definition. Herb Simon and John
McCarthy from the East Coast, Edward Feighenbaum and Nils
Nilsson on the West Coast, we in America's heartland - no two
definitions are alike, and all have been misunderstood by the
media as they try to capture the latest 80'S buzzwords.
Instead of trying to set a definition in concrete, lets use
this: Artificial Intelligence is a process by which a device
is made able to perform tasks which, when they are performed
by humans, are said to require some thought. The reason for
the hedging in that statement is that it usually happens that
as soon as a machine can do some task, that task is declared
not to have needed intelligence to be performed in the first
place.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line129
bat %H = AI%sPROBLEMS | %L = 129 | %N = 3.43
bat call -header | begtype
Let's look at some of the applications of AI.
GAMES
Computers that play chess (and win!) use AI techniques. The
first idea is to create a tree that branches out into all the
possible moves that the two players can make. However, as
the game develops, the number of branches of a chess tree
become so large that even a Cray works overtime. The next
step is to assign values to moves - a high value to a move
that takes the other queen, a somewhat lower value to a move
that opens your king to mate in two moves. Thus, whole sets
of branches can be eliminated because of the low value
calculated. The final step is to create strategies, plans,
counterplans and all the other things that humans do.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line130
bat %H = AI%sPROBLEMS | %L = 130 | %N = 3.44
bat call -header | begtype
THEOREM PROVING
This is basically checking up on the work of mathematicians
and other folks of that breed. As mathematics get more
complicated (e.g. Fermat's Last Theorem or the Four Color
Problem), a computer with a human-like mind is handy to
double check your work. The English language analogy would
be a spelling checker that made sure you used "your/you're"
and "effect/affect" in the right places.
PREDICATE CALCULUS
This is applying Boolean Logic to ideas instead of what BL
usually is applied to. For example, imagine the diagnostic
procedures doctors go through to determine a patients'
illness. Now imagine if you had some symptoms that were
related to a rare disease...a computer with the ability to
sort through all these Rules wouldn't care, because it had a
perfect memory and rather fast search time. A doctor would
probably have a tougher time.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line131
bat %H = AI%sPROBLEMS | %L = 131 | %N = 3.45
bat call -header | begtype
These Rules could be hooked up with programs and called
Expert Systems. There are useful expert systems around,
however - several of the famous ones are Mycin (a medical
diagnostic expert system), and Prospector, a mineral deposits
locator that recently found a massive Molybdenum strike in
Montana.
PATTERN RECOGNITION
How to give ears and eyes to a machine. Let's talk about
vision.
A camera takes a picture and breaks it down into PIXELS.
Sufficient resolution for an 8.5 x 11 drawing might be 250
dots per inch. This means, for black and white only, that
picture has 11.5 million pixels to process. That takes a
while. You and I (and your 12 year old son) can look at a
piece of paper and determine if it is an insurance form or a
centerfold rather quickly. The computer, however, must
analyze each and every pizel.
end
bat call -scroll | goto -line%L
bat -line132
bat %H = AI%sPROBLEMS | %L = 132 | %N = 3.46
bat call -header | begtype
One way of speeding it up is to break the picture up into
regions of light and dark, of edges and places, of shapes and
objects. Then it compares these to images it already has
stored in memory, and makes "guess" if they are pretty close.
Naturally, if the picture is in color, the number of pixels
that must be processed increases tremendously.
Try doing that on an abacus!
end
bat call -scroll | stack diskmag4.bat | exit
bat -opt6 stack diskmag1.bat | exit
bat -opt7 stack diskmag2.bat | exit
bat -opt8 stack diskmag4.bat | exit
bat -opt9 stack diskmag5.bat | exit